International Day of Older Persons Webinar Frailty and Vaccine Effectiveness in Older Adults

Older age and frailty are not synonymous, however the risk of becoming frail increases with age. Frailty—the degree to which an individual’s well-being and ability to function independently declines—has been shown to impact the effectiveness of vaccines, particularly influenza. Understanding this correlation can lead to improved health outcomes for the most vulnerable members of our society.

In celebration of the 2019 UN International Day of Older Persons, focusing on the theme "The Journey to Age Equality," the IFA hosted this webinar featuring Dr Melissa Andrew, Associate Professor of Medicine and consultant in Geriatric Medicine at Dalhousie University in Halifax, Canada. The aim is to explore how frailty impacts vaccine effectiveness and how this may be considered in a life-course approach to immunisation.